“Purchasing two-way radios for commercial or personal use can prove to be a wise investment for anyone wanting a reliable cost-effective communication system. BUT, the decision as to which radio is right for you requires careful consideration”.

She also makes it clear that,

“Operating environments vary greatly from one consumer to the next and there is no such thing as a ‘one size fits all’ approach when choosing ‘the best’ radio. While they can be pricey, two-way radios are a very useful and cost-effective piece of kit to have in your communication armory”.

She’s right; there are lots of things to consider before making the ultimate choice, chief amongst them is the band you’ll be using. UHF (Ultra High Frequency) radios operate on frequencies between 400 and 512 Megahertz. These radios have a very strong signal and are especially useful if users will be moving between and indoor and an outdoor setting.

Conversely, there are the VHF (Very High Frequency) radios. VHF is generally weaker than UHF, but can carry a signal over a longer distance and generally uses less power. It is important to be aware that VHF and UHF radios are completely incompatible, so choosing one may exclude your from getting the other.

Another thing to note is that there is actually a difference between a 2 way radio and a walkie talkie, although the terms are, more often than not, used interchangeably. According to 2wayradionline.co.uk,

“Modern walkie talkies still utilize the push-to-talk technology and are available in numerous price ranges – from units sold as toys to more commercial units used for public safety, business or any setting where a portable radio would be necessary. Some walkie talkie models can be made to be very small and depending on the differing use, the equipment varies with consumer use and commercial use”.

However….

“While commercial 2 way radios or hand-held portable two-way radios are often called walkie-talkies or ‘handie-talkies’, don’t confuse them with the cheaper model 2 way radio ‘walkie-talkies’. Two-way radios are available in mobile and stationary base configurations. An example of a two way radio that both transmits and receives at the same time (or full-duplex) is a mobile phone or cellular telephone, which uses two different radio frequencies to carry the two directions of the conversation simultaneously”.

Whilst this may seem a trifle nitpicky, it is important to keep in mind that buying a walkie talkie or two-way radio set represents a significant corporate investment. It is also important to consider whether you want the ‘licensed’ or ‘license free’ radio band. Basically, licensed radios are secure, but a lot more expensive, whereas license free radios can be eavesdropped upon. Whatever you buy, these factors are the most important to consider.

For more information on how 2wayradionline.co.uk can help your business communicate better.